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MONTREAL — As the Argos prepare for their upcoming trip to Montreal for this weekend’s Eastern final, Larry Taylor was busy doing his own packing Thursday.

Stuffed in his suitcase was a one-way ticket out of town.

In what has to be considered good news for Jim Barker’s crew, the Als sent home the CFL’s top special team performer of 2009, feeling he was not in the type of physical condition needed to be a factor in Sunday’s showdown at the cavernous Olympic Stadium.

Taylor had inked a deal with the NFL’s New York Jets during the summer, but was released in October. He rejoined the Als for the Oct. 29 game against the Argos but suffered a hip pointer in that contest and has not played since.

“Obviously, it was a very difficult decision,” coach Marc Trestman told Montreal reporters. “It wasn’t a disciplinary issue or personality issue. I felt it was in the best interest of the team to play the guys who had been with us the entire year.”

Rookie Tim Maypray will handle the Als kick returning duties Sunday.

“The ultimate question is: What’s in the best interest of the team? I think this is, regardless of what transpires,” Trestman said of the decision to play without Taylor’s services.

Ironically, the most dangerous kick returner on the field Sunday will be the Argos’ Chad Owens, a player that still is included in the Als’ media guide.

Owens, who was shipped to the Argos by the Als in June, seems to be a shoe-in to be named the league’s most outstanding special teams player of 2010, the same award Taylor captured 12 months ago.

Looking back, think the Als might like a redo of that trade right now?